Local Sites

Ken Giles’ rapid ascent through the Phillies system and into the Rookie of the Year race came as a surprise to many, but not to those that saw him and his 100 mph fastballs with the BlueClaws in 2012. Giles came back to Lakewood on Wednesday for the annual Phillies Winter Banquet and recalled his time with the BlueClaws three years ago.

“The fan experience stands out. It’s one of those things you couldn’t really describe in words,” he said. “It’s so special to me that this is where I started to be a professional baseball player. I soaked in every moment of it, I enjoyed myself, and I never had a point where I was stressing out about anything.”

Giles went 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA with the BlueClaws in 2012, making six starts among his 29 appearances and striking out 86 hitters in 67 innings pitched. He only threw 25 innings with Clearwater in 2013, but returned from injury to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, something that Giles considers a turning point in his career.

“That was the biggest point in my career, because I had to learn the different side of baseball and how to come back stronger, better, and smarter,” he said. “That helped me going into the AFL and I brought that into the next spring training too. All my pitching mechanics clicked when I came back from the injury.”

–

Giles was called in to Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage’s office after a game in June, like had happened several times before.

“You’re going to Cincinnati,” Brundage told him.

Giles didn’t realize the Phillies were in Cincinnati and asked if he’d been traded. He hadn’t. He’d been called up, and after debuting on June 12th, became the 61st player to go From The Shore, To The Show (the total list is now 67).

With the Phillies, Giles went 3-1 with a 1.18 ERA and struck out 64 hitters in 45.2 innings pitched and he’s ready for bigger things in 2015 in a bullpen with Jake Diekman and Jonathan Papelbon (if he doesn’t get traded).

“We’re going to be a hard bullpen to face. People are going to say ‘O man we have to face this bullpen,’ kind of like the Royals. The starter didn’t go long, but they only needed him to go six, because they have the 7-8-9 guy. They have to score runs early.”

Who’s the toughest guy he’s faced? “Definitely Giancarlo Stanton (of the Marlins). He’s just got great bat ability, can hit hard throwers, and if you make a mistake, he’s going to make you pay.”

What did he learn with his first few months with the Phillies? “Be yourself. That’s not trying to showboat or anything, but being yourself. That’s all I did when I got brought up. I’m not going to change who I am, and I’ll be myself around the clubhouse. Once I cross those white lines, I have to be who I am.”

Now, he’s a reliever the National League will have to contend with for many years to come.

The announcement was made on Tuesday that Shawn Williams will manage the BlueClaws in 2015, coming from Williamsport where he managed the Crosscutters last year.

You can read the press release here and you can read the story in the Asbury Park Press here.

We had a chance to talk to Williams on Tuesday, and we have some quotes below.

On coming to Lakewood: I cannot wait to get up there. I’ve heard nothing but great things. I played in the South Atlantic League with Columbus (Georgia in 2008) but we didn’t play Lakewood. I’ve heard the stadium is an exciting place to play and have heard great things about the area and the fans. Legger (Greg Legg) told me how awesome it is.

Being a first-time manager last year: It was awesome. I learned a lot from Nelson Prada (who managed Williamsport in 2013 when Williams was a player/coach) and Roly de Armas (GCL Phillies manager) in extended spring training. Doug Mansolino (field coordinator) and Andy Tracy (hitting coordinator) have helped me along the way and the amount of knowledge you learn is priceless for me.

When he figured out he wanted to manage: It was always something I wanted to do down the road, but I didn’t know when it was going to happen. I asked my brother (Brady) who manages with the Rays (Double-A Montgomery last year) and he said I’d know when it was time. I was a player two years ago and they offered me the chance to start coaching and it was something I couldn’t turn down.

Hardest part of managing: It’s a combination of everything. Knowing the personalities of your players and getting the most out of them, during the every-day work that we do and making sure you don’t overwork them. The in-game stuff – learning when to hit and run and when to bunt – is the hardest to learn but a lot of that is knowing your players and what they can and can’t do.

Advice he’s received from his father Jimy, who managed the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros: He gives me advice pretty much daily. I talk to him almost every day. He listens to the games, and he definitely has some insight for me, and asks questions about why we did this and that. Probably the best thing is when he comes up and visits and critiques how I coach third base, and I definitely use my dad as much as I can.

Experiences as a kid while his dad was a big league coach and manager: I don’t really remember Toronto but I remember Atlanta and especially Boston. We’d go there during the summers, go on a few road trips, and being around those players was a great learning experience, finding out what you’re supposed to do on a daily basis and how to conduct yourself.

—

Note: We also asked Williams about some of the players he had last year in Williamsport that could be BlueClaws in 2015. Look for that in the coming days.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Shawn Williams has been named the 11th manager in BlueClaws history and will lead the team in 2015, it was announced by the Phillies on Wednesday.

He will be joined on the staff by hitting coach Nelson Prada and pitching coach Aaron Fultz.

Williams, 31, managed Williamsport in 2014, his first as a manager. He was a player/coach with the Crosscutters in 2013 follwing the conclusion of his playing career. He spent four seasons (2007-10) in the Tampa Bay minor league system while also playing in the American Association (2006), Can-Am League (2010-11) and the Atlantic League (2010 & 2012).

“I cannot wait to get up to Lakewood and start the season,” said Williams. “I played in the South Atlantic League with Columbus (GA), and that year we didn’t play Lakewood, but from everything I’ve been told, the stadium is an exciting place to play. I’ve heard nothing but great things.”

His father, Jimy, managed the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros and is a former Phillies bench coach.

Prada comes to Lakewood after serving as Clearwater’s manager in 2014 and Williamsport’s manager in 2013. Prior to joining the Phillies, Prada spent eight years managing in the Twins organization, five with Beloit in the Midwest League and three with the Gulf Coast League Twins.

Fultz, who was Lakewood’s pitching coach in 2013, is the lone member of the coaching staff that has coached for the BlueClaws before. He joined the Phillies as a coach in 2012 and spent that season and 2014 as the pitching coach with Williamsport. He pitched for the Giants, Rangers, Twins, Phillies, and Indians over an eight-year big league career.

Greg Legg, who managed the BlueClaws last year and had been on the coaching staff for eight of the team’s 14 seasons (2001 and 2014 as the manager and 2008-2013 as hitting coach), will serve as Clearwater’s manager in 2015, his 34th in the Phillies organization. Dusty Wathan, who managed the BlueClaws to a league title in 2009, will return to Reading and Chris Truby, who managed the BlueClaws in 2011, will embark in his second season as the Phillies roving infield coordinator.

2015 BlueClaws ticket packages and group outings are now on sale. Additional information is available by calling 732-901-7000 option 3 or online at BlueClaws.com.

The BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore’s top stop for affordable, family entertainment. They will celebrate their 15th season of family fun this year, with programs and promotions throughout the summer. For more information, visit BlueClaws.com/15.

Roman Quinn’s 2014 season started on the disabled list but it’s ending in the All-Star game of the prestigious Arizona Fall League, as the 2013 BlueClaw continues to thrive against some of the top prospects in baseball.

“I think I’ve stacked up pretty well,” he said on Thursday from Arizona. “I’m working on getting better every day. It’s great being out here and I’m learning a lot from the older guys. They’re giving me some great advice.”

Through games of November 6th, Quinn was leading the league in stolen bases (13 in 15 attempts), tied for the lead in runs scored (18) and tied for the league lead in walks (15). Because of his ability to walk, 15 in 92 plate appearances (16.3%), his on-base percentage is .370 and it’s given him ample opportunity to utilize his best tool, his speed. That this improved walk rate (he was just under 9% with Clearwater this year, has come against some of the best pitching prospects in the game, is all the more impressive. Quinn, who was a right-handed hitter growing up, began switch-hitting in 2012 while with Williamsport in the NY-Penn League and attributes his improved patience and plate discipline to the increased amount of reps he’s accumulated from the left side.

“It’s definitely something I wanted to work on. I figure it all came together from the reps I got and seeing more pitches and getting more at bats from the left side,” he said. “That [plate discipline and pitch selection] was the last part to come around from the left side.”

Things are winding down in the Arizona Fall League. Let’s check in on the former BlueClaws currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

Position Players

Logan Moore (2012) – Moore played two games over the last week and went 1-4 in each one and is 5-30 so far in the AFL.

Roman Quinn (2013) – Since our last update, Quinn has played four “regular season” games and had a hit in each one while adding a combined six walks and three stolen bases while scoring seven runs. He’s up to .260 so far with a home run, 15 walks against just 11 strikeouts, and 13 stolen bases.

We noted “regular season” above because Quinn also played in Saturday’s “Fall Stars Game,” in which he went 2-2 and drove in two runs.

Pitchers

Colton Murray (2012) – Since our last update, Murray has thrown three perfect innings, including two in his last appearance yesterday. He’s allowed five earned runs in 11.2 innings so far with 11 Ks and 1 BB, a very good fall for Murray.

Ethan Stewart (2012) – Stewart threw a 1-2-3 inning on Monday, his only appearance since our last update. He’s given up four earned runs in 6.1 innings so far while striking out 10.

Lisalverto Bonilla (2011) – Bonilla has not pitched since our last update. He’s made three starts down there and has allowed seven earned runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 11.

You can follow the Arizona Fall League in more detail by clicking here.

With another week gone by, let’s check in on the former BlueClaws currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

Position Players

Logan Moore (2012) – Moore has played two games since our last update, going 1-4 last Wednesday and 0-3 on Monday. He is 3-22 in the AFL so far.

Roman Quinn (2013) – Quinn has continued to play extremely well. Since our last update he has three hits and two stolen bases. He also hit his first home run, taking Braves prospect Aaron Northcraft deep on Monday. He is 15-59 and has added nine walks and 10 stolen bases while serving as Scottsdale’s primary lead-off hitter and centerfielder.

Quinn will be playing in the Fall Stars Game on Saturday night at 8 pm. The game will be televised on MLB Network.

Pitchers

Colton Murray (2012) – Murray has thrown three scoreless innings with two strikeouts since our last update. He’s given up five runs in 8.2 innings with nine strikeouts against one walk.

Ethan Stewart (2012) – After missing 12 days, Stewart has made two appearances since our last update, allowing two runs in one inning on Thursday (on a home run to Cubs prospect Addision Russell [the player traded to Chicago from Oakland for Jeff Samardzjia]) and one run in one inning on Tuesday.

Lisalverto Bonilla (2011) – Bonilla, with the Rangers, made his third start of the Fall League on Thursday, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work, though he did strike out six against just two walks.

You can follow the Arizona Fall League in more detail by clicking here.

Mitch Rupert is the outstanding Williamsport Crosscutters beat reporter from the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and recently unveiled a new blog post looking at 20 players from the 2014 Crosscutters and their outlooks heading into the 2015 season when most will be with the BlueClaws.

BlueClaws fans are familiar with some of the players listed, such as C Deivi Grullon, who was with Lakewood for six weeks prior to joining Williamsport at the start of their season, OF Jiandido Tromp, who has spent part of the last two seasons with the BlueClaws, and OF Aaron Brown, a 3rd round pick this year who played the last three weeks of the season in Lakewood.

Grullon, Sandberg, and Tromp are locks to be in Lakewood when the season opens. Pujols is only 18 and only had a few games in Williamsport this year, so it’s not inconceivable he could stay in extended spring training, come up here if there is an injury, or go back to Williamsport, but I’m sure Pujols will at least have a chance to play his way onto the BlueClaws roster. Brown seems ticketed for Clearwater on Opening Day.

Pitchers

LHP Matt Imhof

RHP Chris Oliver

RHP Ricardo Pinto

LHP Brandon Liebrandt

RHP Edubray Ramos

Imhof will almost certainly be in Clearwater and it’s possible, if not likely, Liebrandt, a 6th round pick this year from Florida State who had a 2.85 ERA and struck out 9.9 hitters per nine innings, will join him there. Ramos, being 21 already and off a sensational season (0.81 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 44 innings), could definitely go to Clearwater, especially if they keep him in the bullpen.

With another week gone by, let’s check in on the former BlueClaws currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

Position Players

Logan Moore (2012) – Moore is 1-5 since our last update and is 2-15 in the AFL so far.

Roman Quinn (2013) – Since our last update, Quinn had a four hit, two run, two stolen base game last Wednesday and added another two-hit game on Monday. Then last night (Tuesday), he drew three walks and went 1-2. All in all, he is 12-47 with nine stolen bases in 11 games and has drawn eight walks (walk rate of 14.5%, which is exceptional) while only striking out six times in 55 plate appearances. While it is still early on (games go until the second week of November), the early returns are very positive for Quinn.

Colton Murray (2012) – Murray has appeared twice since our last update, allowing two runs in one inning last Wednesday and one run in 1/3 of an inning on Saturday. Overall, he has allowed five runs in 5.2 innings but has struck out seven and walked just one.

Ethan Stewart (2012) – Has not pitched since October 11th (we hope is ok) and has allowed one run in 3.1 innings so far.

Lisalverto Bonilla (2011) – Bonilla is the only former BlueClaw in the AFL not representing the Phillies (he’s with the Rangers after being traded for Michael Young following the 2012 season). He’s pitched twice in Arizona, once since our last update, starting and throwing four scoreless innings on Friday. He’s allowed three runs (all in his first appearance) in seven innings so far.

You can follow the Arizona Fall League in more detail by clicking here.

With one week gone by, let’s check in on the former BlueClaws currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

Position Players

Logan Moore (2012) – Moore has one hit, a single, in 10 ABs so far, but has drawn two walks.

Roman Quinn (2013) – The primary lead-off hitter and center-fielder for Scottsdale, Quinn is 5-25 to start the Fall League, though he had his first two-hit game on Tuesday, going 2-6 with a double and two RBIs. The speedster has added four stolen bases in his first six games.

Pitchers

Colton Murray (2012) – Murray, who had an excellent year between Clearwater and Reading this summer, has allowed two runs in 4.1 innings so far. Both runs were given up in his AFL debut and he responded with two perfect innings, striking out three, on Friday and struck out the lone hitter to face him on Monday.

Ethan Stewart (2012) – Converted to the bullpen during the summer, Stewart earned a spot in Arizona with a stellar second-half of the season. So far in the AFL he has made two appearances. He gave up one earned run in 1.1 innings last Wednesday and threw two scoreless innings on Saturday. He’s struck out six in his 3.1 innings though he has walked five.

Lisalverto Bonilla (2011) – Bonilla, the lone player on this list who is not with the Phillies (he’s with Texas), gave up three runs in three innings as a starter on Saturday night, including a two-run home run to Yankees farmhand Kyle Higashioka.

You can follow the Arizona Fall League in more detail by clicking here.

The Phillies have hired Johnny Almaraz as the organization’s Director of Amateur Scouting, Benny Looper, Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel announced today.

Almaraz, 49, had spent the last eight seasons (2007-14) with the Atlanta Braves, where he was the director of Latin American operations (2007-09) and more recently the director of international scouting and operations (2010-14). In his role he oversaw scouting operations for the club outside the United States and Canada, supervised all operations at the Braves’ Dominican Baseball Academy and managed a staff of nearly 20 international scouts. During his time with the Braves, Almaraz signed, among others, right-hander Julio Teheran and catcher Christian Bethancourt.

Prior to working for the Braves, Almaraz spent 16 years with the Cincinnati Reds in various roles including director of player personnel and director of player development. As a scout, he was credited with signing a number of future major league players including right-hander Johnny Cueto, outfielder Adam Dunn, catcher Paul Bako and left-hander B.J. Ryan.

“We couldn’t be happier to add someone of Johnny’s caliber to our baseball operations staff,” said Looper. “He has established a reputation for being able to identify future major league talent and brings a great deal of experience to the Phillies.”

Almaraz pitched for two years in the Reds’ minor league system after being selected in the 14th round of the 1988 draft out of Southwest Texas State University.

You can read more on Almaraz’s appointment from Ryan Lawrence at Philly.com here.

Baseball America is in the process of rolling out their 2014 league top 20 prospect rankings and the South Atlantic League list features SS JP Crawford at #2.

You can see the lists for all of the leagues (with some still to be unveiled) by clicking here.

Crawford, the 16th overall pick in the 2013 draft from Lakewood, California, played two weeks with the BlueClaws at the end of last season and this year, hit .295 with 3 HRs, 19 RBIs and 14 SBs over 60 games with Lakewood. At the All-Star break, he was promoted to Hi-A Clearwater, where he played 63 games and hit .275 with 8 HRs, 29 RBs and 10 SBs.

I’m sure he will also appear on the Florida State League prospect list when it is announced next week.

The Phillies were not represented in the Gulf Coast League top 20 and their lone representative in the NY-Penn League top 20 was Aaron Brown (#18), who played for both Williamsport (.256, 3 HRs, 8 SBs) and Lakewood (.309, 1 HR in 14 games). Brown hit is lone BlueClaws home run in the Labor Day season finale, a 9-8 BlueClaws come-from-behind win in Hagerstown.

With the MLB season concluding yesterday, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of your favorite former BlueClaws and how they performed in the big leagues this year. We’ll get to the position players later.

There are 2,430 games played in each Major League season (30 teams play 162 games each, then divide by two since, obviously, each game features two teams). 114 of those games, or 4.7%, were won by former BlueClaws.

The leader? A guy that was probably 20-1 at the beginning of the season: Alfredo Simon of the Reds. Simon was with the BlueClaws in 2003 (with Cole Hamels). This year with Cincinnati, he went 15-10 with a 3.44 ERA.

Three other former BlueClaws won at least 10 games this year: Jarred Cosart (who won 13 between the Astros and Marlins), JA Happ (who won 11 with Toronto), and Kyle Kendrick (who won 10 with the Phillies).

Cole Hamels (9), Carlos Carrasco (8 with the Indians), and Vance Worley (8 with the Pirates) were next on the list.

Worley, with the BlueClaws in 2008, is the only former BlueClaws pitcher headed to the post-season.

Obviously we have done a bad job maintaining this blog over the last few months, and we are going to try to rectify that over the next few months. So I hope you haven’t forgotten about us over here. Keep checking back and we’ll have some good stuff for you.

Andy Tracy is the Phillies Minor League hitting coordinator and is responsible for all of the hitters in the Phillies minor league system. He spent the weekend with the BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park and we sat down with him to talk about some of the hitters you’ve seen with the BlueClaws this year, a few that have played with the BlueClaws in the past, and a few that will play with the BlueClaws in the future.